Latest News

Drug-testing lab fills growing niche

Coeur d'Alene business aims for $6 million in sales, up to five new locations in 2009

February 12, 2009

Global Drug Testing Labs Inc. is growing quickly, increasing its sales dramatically over the last four years in what it says is a "recession-proof" niche. Drug use bucks economic trends, increasing in both good times and bad, says Ken Smith, the

Photo courtesy of Spokane Public Schools

Education stimulus scope said not likely to match hope

GSI compiles inventory of 297 possible projects proposed here

February 12, 2009

Jeanne Gustafson

As Congress edges closer to passing a federal stimulus package that could send as much as $250 million to Washington state for K-12 and higher education, school districts and others have been guessing at the parameters of the final disbursements no

Low-cost heart screenings offered in Cd'A

February 12, 2009

Kootenai Heart Center, in Coeur d'Alene, is providing low-cost screenings this month to measure patients' risk factors for heart disease.The screenings are open to everyone, but the main focus is to encourage women to be more aware of their many

Health-care benefit survival tactics for employers to mull

Taking some basic steps can help corral expenses, keep employees engaged

February 12, 2009

Nancy Kokenge

Health-care benefits can make up nearly one-third of a company's total payroll expense. As employers face challenging economic times, there are ways they can get a handle on this ever-growing cost while still keeping employees engaged and despite a

Study links family history to odds of getting shingles

Risk rises with the number of relatives you know who have had painful condition

February 12, 2009

Researchers at The University of Texas Medical School, in Houston, have identified family history as one reason why some people might be more susceptible to shingles, a severe skin condition. Their findings were published last year in an issue of a

New HIV clinic opens here to serve region's patients

Afflicted population grows in number, while ranks of specialists are in decline

February 12, 2009

David Cole

Internal Medicine Residency Spokane, which is located at the Fifth & Browne Medical Center near downtown, has opened a new clinic to provide HIV and AIDS patients with medical care.Internal Medicine is a three-year internal medicine residency of

Separate study cites merits of using supplemental MRI in breast exams

February 12, 2009

An unrelated pilot study presented at a gathering in December has found that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) alternated with mammography at six-month intervals can detect breast cancers not identified by mammography alone.The study was by a The

Software for mammography could help find more cancer

Such programs, though, also could increase false positives, review suggests

February 12, 2009

Computer programs designed to help radiologists could identify more cases of breast cancer, but also might increase the number of false-positive results, which can lead to biopsies in healthy women, according to a recent systematic review.Using

Using pseudo-cash incentive to encourage healthy living

Asuris says reward-based Motivate self-managed plan is off to good start

February 12, 2009

Kim Crompton

Health plan provider Asuris Northwest Health, which has about 56,000 members in Eastern Washington, says it's pleased with the response it's getting to a six-month-old plan, called Asuris Motivate, that enables members to earn virtual funds by of a

Doctors launch lung cancer clinic to streamline care

Medical oncologist, pulmonologist hope to involve more doctors

February 12, 2009

Jeanne Gustafson

Two doctors here have launched a Lung Cancer Clinic at Spokane-based Rockwood Clinic PS to streamline diagnosis and care for lung cancer patients. The physicians, Dr. Jay Wittenkeller, a medical oncologist who practices at Rockwood Clinic, and a